Asher snorted. “Yeah, right. More like an Oprah or Dr. Phil quote. Wouldn’t I be great on a talk show? I could paint, and tell jokes and philosophize … all we need is a satellite dish and an audience of blue haired old ladies. Marilyn could be my first guest.”
Carly released his hands and threw her head back, laughing. Asher didn’t wait for a second. His hands were suddenly all over her middle, tickling her ribs.
“Oh!” She shrieked in laughter and slapped at his hands. “Quit it. Quit it,” she gasped, trying to grab his wrists.
Asher beamed like a little kid, his eyes sparkling as he went for her armpits.
“No,” she wailed, “not there … anywhere but there!”
He reached up and grabbed her under the arms, pulling her off the bar toward him. Her body slid slowly against his before her feet landed on the floor.
“You did that on purpose,” she accused, a rueful little smile playing across her lips.
“What else would you expect from me?” he retorted. Dipping his head, he kissed her soundly on the lips, and then pushed back, holding her at arm’s length. “Are you happy again, Ms. Foster?”
Was she? Carly glanced at him. Well, if she had to go and fall in love with someone, at least it was someone as wonderful as Asher Day. And truth be told, he did make her happy. Even if she couldn’t tell him that she loved him. Correction, wouldn’t tell him. At least not anytime soon.
“Yes,” she answered, “I’m happy.”
Asher winked. “Good. I’m just happy that you’re happy.”
Carly winked back. “Can I quote you on that?”
Laughing and pulling her with him, he opened the old door to the saloon and walked out into the sunny afternoon.
Chapter Eleven
Sophie yawned and adjusted the tiny bundle in her arms. The baby eyed her and yawned in response, then smacked his lips in satisfaction before closing his dark eyes again. He wrinkled his little brow and began to move squirm.
“Is Daniel finished with his breakfast?” whispered Daniel.
“You never get tired of saying his name, do you?” asked Sophie, reaching up to stroke her husband’s cheek.
“Nope. I have my very own little mini-me,” he said and threw back the covers, swinging his long legs to the floor. He scratched near the top of his cast and then stretched, looking over his shoulder at his wife. “And mini-Soph, too,” he added.
Sophie gestured toward the wall. “Danny, don’t get up without those crutches. The doctor told you not to put any weight on your leg for at least another three weeks.”
“Then why did she give me a walking cast?” he grumbled, reaching for the crutches propped up against the wall.
Sophie sighed and eased out of bed. “To irritate me, probably.”
A thin wail broke through their friendly argument and Daniel abandoned the crutches, reaching out for the baby. “Go on, dearest. You need to get some breakfast so that you can feed Junior here in another hour or so.”
Sophie chuckled and slipped on her bathrobe. “Thanks. Do you think you can reach the diaper bag from there?”
“What for?”
Sophie walked around the bed and folded back the blanket covering the baby. A pungent tell-tale odor wafted up and Daniel wrinkled his nose, holding the tiny bundle out.
“Mommy, he needs you.”
“Oh, no. Fair is fair. Broken leg or not, you’re changing that diaper.” She grabbed the diaper bag and plunked it on the bed next to him, still chuckling.
Sophie belted her bathrobe and smoothed back her buttery blond hair. She grinned at her frowning husband and walked up the basement stairs, yawning. At the top she pushed open the old, wide door and entered the sunny lobby, a sleepy smile on her face.
“What’s got you so happy, Sis?” Asher sat cross-legged on the front desk, a cup of coffee nestled in a large palm.
“Nothing much. Just simple things. I got to sleep most of the night through, and Daniel is on diaper duty today.”
She stretched again and gave Asher a cautious glance. He had been so on edge lately, and she feared that he was slipping back into the moodiness that had a hold over him when he first came back to Ruby Spring. But today, there were no signs of it. His eyes were sparkling, and his smile was easy and warm.
“Better him than me,” declared Asher as he hopped down from the desk. “How about I get you some eggs?”
“Sounds good. That’s a pretty generous offer from a man who hates to cook. Where’s Carly?”
“She’s in the kitchen, fixing your eggs,” he said with a laugh.
Sophie shook her head, grinning, and pushed open the kitchen door.
“Hey, Carly.”
“Sophie, I was going to bring you down a tray to surprise you, but you beat me to it.” Carly wiped her hands on a towel and reached into the refrigerator for the orange juice.
Taking the carton from her, Sophie sat at the table and poured a glass. “Now why would you want to surprise me today? You’re the birthday girl.”
The kitchen door swung open and Asher ambled in. He winked at Carly and sat on the edge of the table. She shooed him off.
“What is it about you and sitting on any kind of furniture but a chair?” she grumbled.
“Answer Sophie’s question, sweetheart,” he countered.
Carly shot him a look and cleared her throat. “I know I’m the birthday girl. I just figured that if I had the time off, I could do something special for someone else with it. We’re in the sticks. It’s not like being in a huge city where I can go power-shop.”
She winced as soon as she said it. Why couldn’t she keep her big mouth shut? She didn’t want to come across as a snob. To her relief, Sophie laughed.
“No kidding. Only a few years ago, when I lived in L.A., I took shopping for granted,” said Sophie, “but Albuquerque really isn’t that bad. It’s pretty fun, actually. If you wanted to go to the mall and the movies today, I’ll bet that Asher wouldn’t mind too much.”
Carly glanced at him. He rolled his eyes and sighed.
“If it wasn’t your birthday, you couldn’t drag me into a mall, but seeing as how it is … ” he trailed off.
Carly grinned and slipped her arm through his, looking up at his tanned, handsome face. A face that was becoming more and more handsome as each day passed. He was putting on some weight, and the exercise climbing all over ladders in the theater wasn’t hurting him, either. Plus, since the day she had apologized to him, he had loosened up a lot and it was a relief to enjoy the tentative truce between them. As far as she could tell, he still had no clue that her feelings for him had deepened so much.
“I won’t take you to a chick flick,” she promised.
“Something tells me you’re not too fond of them anyway,” he countered.
“Yes I am.” Carly wiggled free to stand next to Sophie, who had a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
Pausing to take a sip of coffee, Sophie rolled her eyes and glanced up at Carly. “All women love chick flicks, Ash. But most women don’t only love them. Besides, I seriously doubt you two could have a bad time together if you tried to on purpose.” She waved her hand in dismissal even as she smiled. “Go. Enjoy your day. Happy Birthday, Carly.”
Asher reached out and tugged on Carly’s hand. “C’mon. I’ll buy you somethin’ purty at the mall,” he drawled.
“As long as it’s not tacky, bright red, and from Victoria’s Secret, you’re on,” she retorted, pushing open the kitchen door.
Asher followed her. “As much as I would like to see that, there is no way in hell I’m going in that store.”
Sophie’s hoot of laughter floated behind them and she called out, “Ha. That’s what Daniel said a year before we were married. Now I have to steer him away from there every time we go into the mall.”
Carly laughed, too, and shot a glance at Asher from beneath her lashes. He blushed and walked quickly past her to the front door.
• • •
Oh, hell. Asher set his mouth in a grim line. God, she looked pretty today. Her pale green sundress clung in all the right places and her wavy hair was caught back in a simple headband. Small pearl earrings dotted her delicate earlobes and she wore just a hint of makeup. Just enough to drive a man crazy.
With clumsy fingers, he dug keys out of his pocket and bounded down the front steps of the hotel. This friendly banter between them was getting ridiculous. He was too old to be playing flirting games. And both of them were too old to be dancing around romance as if they were frightened animals.
Why couldn’t he just ask her out on a date like a normal man? If he wasn’t such a coward, he would do it. But he was almost sure she would say no, because she was just as scared as he was. He knew her well enough to realize that.
He unlocked the van and pulled back the creaky, rusting door. Well, so what if she said no? Then he had the perfect opportunity to ask her why. But that would be a mistake. Carly Foster was a bad liar. So even if she tried to spare his feelings he would know … especially if she didn’t feel the same way about him that he did about her.
He wouldn’t do it. It was too risky. But he wasn’t a coward, dammit … not with anything else in his life. So,why this? He would do it. He had to do it. Sighing, he rested his head on the doorframe. Maybe he would do it. Yeah. Maybe.
Asher jumped into the driver’s seat and reached across to unlock her door, glancing over at her smiling face beyond the dusty window. She was so beautiful. He grinned and she winked at him, grabbing the outside handle. Quickly, he pushed the lock in and winked back.
Carly pulled up on the handle and then stomped her foot. “Unlock it,” she mouthed, smiling.
Asher did as commanded, and then snapped the lock down again, just as she moved the handle. Her mouth dropped open. Chuckling now, he leaned back and laced his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and smiled as he heard her feet crunching on gravel.
As his door swung open, he casually opened his eyes and gazed at her. “Yes?”
Carly grabbed his arm and tugged. “I’m driving.”
“But this is my van.”
“So what? It’s my birthday. I feel like driving. Scoot over.”
Asher looked quickly into her smiling eyes. It was now or never. He swallowed and handed her the keys.
“I’ll scoot over if you do me a favor.”
“What’s that?” There was suspicion in her eyes.
He blushed and forced himself to look at her. God, why did this have to be so hard? Clearing his throat, he began.
“Let me start over. I shouldn’t be asking you for a favor on your birthday. I should be giving you a present. Well, actually, I have a present to give you … but I was going to do that later. So, this isn’t really a present … I mean, it would be arrogant for me to assume that it is.” He stopped short and drew in a deep breath. “I’m not making any sense, am I?”
Carly tilted her head and gazed at him. “Nope. Not so far. But go on, I’m listening.”
“OK. All right. What I am trying to say is … Carly, I want to go out with you. On a date. A real date. Today. May I take you on a date?”
A slow grin spread across her face. Leaning in to the van, she pulled him down for a soft kiss. “I’m sorry, but no … you’re wrong, Asher.”
His face fell almost as fast as his heart plummeted. What had he been thinking? Blinking, he looked away.
“You’re wrong,” she continued, “That is a good present. A perfect present. I would love to go out with you on a date … and I can’t think of a better day than today.”
Carly held out the keys and nudged his arm. “But I think I’ve changed my mind about driving. If you’re taking me on a good old-fashioned date, then I guess I’ll let you drive your own vehicle.”
“You really want to go out with me?” Asher looked down at her in wonder, taking the keys.
Shaking her head, Carly beamed at him. “Of course I do, bonehead. Whatever did you think?”
They stared at each other for a few seconds, and then Asher smiled. “I’ll unlock your door now.”
“You better.”
• • •
Carly bounded around the back of the van, hugging herself in happiness.
It was her birthday and the man she was in love with had just made a move. She giggled and hopped up and down behind the van. It seemed juvenile, but she didn’t care. Today was her thirtieth birthday, not her thirteenth, but it just didn’t matter … not where Asher was concerned.
She pulled open the passenger door and hopped up beside him. “So where are you taking me, handsome?”
Asher grinned and started the engine. “Not to the mall.”
“No?”
“No. But I think you’ll still have fun buying things.”
“Curious. OK. I won’t try to guess … I love surprises.”
Leaning back in the comfy old seat, Carly gazed out the dusty window. She had an urge to reach out with her index finger and trace a heart with initials in it. But that would be ridiculous. Talk about a mood breaker. Get a grip, Carly.
But it was hard not to think like a love-struck teenager. Just as long as she didn’t act like one and wear her heart on her sleeve, she would be safe.
• • •
Once in Albuquerque, Asher drove past the exit for the mall and continued on the interstate for a few more miles. At an exit for the downtown area, he slowed and moved the van off to a side street. Carly looked around, her head swiveling. “I’ve never seen this part of the city before.”
“All it is is strip malls and box stores in this part. Don’t you have those in Chicago?”
“Yes, but not like this. Everything is so open. And we certainly don’t have cacti flanking the Arby’s signs. This is cool.”
Asher laughed. “It doesn’t take much to amuse you, does it?”
“Not really. But don’t forget … I am a complicated, mysterious woman,” she said, batting her eyelashes and pursing her lips.
“Oh, I concur with you on that,” he agreed, turning down another side street.
Carly flipped down the visor and pretended to check her lipstick in the mirror. “I’m not sure whether to be offended or be flattered by that.”
“I think you should be flattered. Besides, doesn’t being mysterious give you an edge?”
Carly flipped the visor back up and turned to him, frowning. “An edge in what? Why would I need an edge?”
He glanced at her and then quickly back at the road. “That didn’t come out right. I just meant that mysterious women tend to drive a man crazy.”
“Drive him crazy in a good way or a bad way?” She raised her eyebrows.
Asher continued to concentrate on driving, but a telltale blush crept into his cheeks. “What do you think?”
Carly stared at him, frozen. All she could envision was him poised above her, getting ready to give her the kiss of a lifetime.
“I’m thinking about you and me in the cabin,” she blurted out. She clapped a hand over her mouth and peered at him. Dammit! Why couldn’t she keep her big mouth shut?
He ran a hand through his dark hair and groaned. “Me, too, so there’s your answer.”
Now Carly was blushing, so she looked around for a distraction. Plucking her purse from the floorboard, she fished around in it for her digital camera. “I think I’ll take a picture of a cactus.”
Asher laughed, breaking the tension that had been mounting. “Well, if you can wait for a little while, that would be better. We’re here,” he announced as he swung the van into a parking space.
Carly looked up and
grinned in delight. They were in famous old town Albuquerque, parked in a lot surrounded by small adobe buildings. Colorful signs for shops graced the store fronts and the sun glimmered off of the sandy pink walls. A few street vendors squatted here and there, hunched over blankets full of goods. A short way away, a quaint plaza spread out invitingly. At the end of it stood a large, sprawling old adobe church.
Sliding out of the van and slamming the door, Carly looped her purse strap over her shoulder and scampered to the edge of the parking lot. “That’s San Felipe de Neri church, isn’t it?” she asked and added, “Built in the late 1700s.”
Asher chuckled and caught up with her. “Bingo.”
“I want to go over there right now.”
“I know you do. That’s one of the reasons why we came here.” He slipped his hand in hers and pulled her toward the plaza. “That and trinket shopping.”
She frowned. “Trinkets? What makes you think I like trinkets?”
“Oh, please. Just try to tell me you can walk by hand-crafted silver jewelry and pottery and not even glance at it.”
Carly stuck her nose in the air. “I can’t. But so what?”
Chuckling, Asher led her across the plaza to the church. “Let’s go on a tour first. This is the first thing I thought of today, anyway. I figured the architecture would be something you wanted to see.”
“You had no intention of taking me to the mall, did you?” Carly clasped his large hand and smiled up at him.
“Nope.”
“And you assumed that I would love to come here, didn’t you?”
Asher shifted glanced at the ground. “Well … if you had really, really, truly had your heart set on going to the mall, sure, we would have done that. But I know me and I know you and this … date … just seems to fit.” He cleared his throat and looked over at the sign in front of the church. “Look, the museum is open until four. That gives us plenty of time.”
Not to be deterred, Carly tugged on his hand until he stopped. Although her mind told her to stop, her body had other ideas. She stepped closer and circled his neck with her arms. “This fits, too,” she whispered, and pulled him in for a kiss.
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